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Student-mentors catch children before they fall through cracks"No one is a lost cause," said University of Rhode Island student William Carter Johnson who mentors four students at South Kingstown High School. "Everyone has potential. I just try to help them recognize that potential." "Children are smart, observant individuals who will let you know if something you say is wrong or inappropriate," said another student, Tina Kalinowski who mentors a first grade class at the Peace Dale Elementary School. Johnson and Kalinowski are two of 75 students who participated in an innovative Mentor-Tutor Internship this semester designed for students interested in making a difference in younger students lives, especially those on the verge of dropping out or feeling disengaged from the school community. The students earn three credits in field experience. The program was initiated three years ago by URI political science Professor Al Killilea and the South County Coalition Against Racism to see if eight URI students of color could break down racial stereotypes while helping local teenage students who, feeling isolated, had the potential for truancy. The program and the focus has evolved and expanded. URI mentors are now actively involved at high schools, junior high schools, middle schools, and elementary schools throughout South County. "We found there were so many needy students that we opened the internship to all URI students," explained Killilea who is assisted by Cherie Aiello, a parent volunteer. While URI students primarily mentor one-on-one with middle through high school students, they also provide "indirect" mentoring in elementary schools. Depending on the teacher and the needs of the classroom, a mentor can either help ensure that a student with social or emotional issues feels included, help with classroom work, or show students how to play respectfully on the playground. "It can be rewarding. The challenge is to connect on some level and form trust and to address individual needs," said Johnson who meets with each of his four mentees for an hour each week. Johnson said it can also be frustrating. Once he arrived at school to discover that one student had been suspended. "Not everyone makes the same decisions. Teenagers rarely look at the whole picture. I don't tell them what to do, I just suggest options. I try to be a role model and a male presence in their lives," said Johnson. The internship program gets some support from The John Hazen White Sr. Center for Ethics and Public Service at URI. "This is a great example of how the late Cranston industrialist's money is well spent," said Killilea. By Jan Sawyer |
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